Tunnel could be dug through Gog Magog Hills in Cambridge for orbital bus route

Tunnels could be dug underneath the Gog Magog Hills south-east of Cambridge as part of a project to create a new orbital bus route.

Residents have reacted angrily to the proposals, which were released by planners who are also considering whether a bus route should be built from the planned Chesterton station to Newmarket Road - going across Ditton Meadows.

This has provoked an angry reaction too - but the council said they were “just ideas” at this stage.

The Gog Magog tunnel has been suggested as part of a project which would see much of the city’s existing ring road - along Fendon Road, Mowbray Road, Perne Road, Brooks Road and Barnwell Road - reserved for buses.

To offset the impact of this, the council has suggested that a new relief road could be built from Trumpington and Addenbrooke’s to Cherry Hinton - perhaps to the junction of Fulbourn Road and Yarrow Road.

A map suggested it could skirt north of Babraham Road park and ride site, but added tunnelling could be considered “if required”.

Hundreds of houses are being built on the southern side of Cambridge, and proposals for another 430 homes in the green belt either side of Worts’ Causeway are currently under consideration.

Jeremy Jones, of Worts’ Causeway, said residents were “horrified” at the prospect of tunnelling.

He said: “People would be horrified if the council thought it was appropriate to spend money tunnelling underneath the Gogs, which would have a significant cost, but they would also be concerned about the potential desecration of one of the most lovely parts of the region that would result from that.

“Tunnelling doesn’t leave somewhere pristine, there has to be an ‘in’ and an ‘out’ and the risks associated with it are frightening to say the least.”

Other suggestions for the orbital bus route include building a new route alongside the M11 between Hauxton and Madingley Road, and the Ditton Meadows option.

A tunnel for buses underneath the city centre could be considered “in the longer term”, the council’s transport strategy for Cambridge and south Cambridgeshire said.

Clare Blair, a member of the Old Chesterton Residents’ Association, said residents were concerned about any damage to Ditton Meadows. It has been suggested that the Chesterton station to Newmarket Road route could also be tunnelled rather than being above ground, but Mrs Blair questioned whether this was a serious suggestion.

She said: “An orbital bus route may make perfect sense in transport terms but it takes absolutely no account of the ancient meadows and environmental concerns, and it isn’t something one could ever envisage happening. Tunnelling is a far-fetched idea which I highly doubt would happen, particularly because it would involve tunnelling under the river.

“The council should come up with a different strategy rather than a fantasy of how to avoid despoiling the meadows.”

The council has warned congestion will drag Cambridge to a halt if ambitious action is not taken to increase the amount of transport capacity is not increased and to encourage people to get out of their cars and to walk or cycle instead.

Cllr Ian Bates, the council’s cabinet member for planning, said: “We are concentrating on practical measures to create more dedicated cycle routes and public transport facilities to get people in and around the city and Cambridge area.

“Our long-term aim is to ensure a more comprehensive network and better accessibility to and the from key employment sites and services that people need to access.

“The strategy also sets out some more aspirational ideas for the longer term including the potential for new orbital routes which may need to be considered to achieve longer term aims.

“These are just ideas at this stage, and we are keen to hear people’s views on the principle as a starting point. If there is support to explore any of the more aspirational solutions such as these further, the options and business cases would then be worked up in more detail and consulted upon.”

Previously announced ideas include new stations at Addenbrooke’s, Cherry Hinton and Fulbourn, dualling the A428, and reopening train lines to Haverhill and Bedford.